Character Education Resource Guide for Elementary Grade Levels Effective character education creates a circle of trust and respect for all. Produced by the Alignment Nashville Elementary Committee Spring 2010
The development of socialization skills and integration of character education are an important part of a child's academic success. The Alignment Nashville Elementary School Committee has developed this resource guide to help you integrate a series of character traits into your students' educational experience. The resources and service providers in this guide make up the Character Education Network, dedicated to providing support of character education for Metro Nashville elementary school students. Letter from Committee The Alignment Nashville Character Education pilot project was first implemented in thirteen elementary schools in 2005-06. Additional schools have become involved incrementally over the years, and today all of our elementary schools are involved in the sharing of ideas and resources for character education. The Alignment Nashville Elementary Committee has helped schools connect with a variety of community organizations and resources to assist with implementing character education programs. Working with principals we have established a schedule to provide consistency across the district for covering the traits recommended by the state. In the last two years, four Metropolitan Nashville elementary schools have received special commendation from the state of Tennessee for their implementation of character education. Our most recent endeavor has been to create this resource guide as an additional tool for schools as they continue to enhance their character education programs. We are proud of the progress our schools have made in character education and are thankful for the community organizations who continue to assist in this effort. Sincerely, Todd Wigginton Alignment Nashville Elementary Committee Chair Coordinator of Social Studies, Metro Nashville Public Schools Melissa Spradlin Alignment Nashville Elementary Committee Vice-Chair Executive Director, Book'em Table of Contents Character Education Traits 3 Importance of Character Education 4 How to Implement Character Education 4 Big Brothers Big Sisters 5 Book'em 5 Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee 5 Character Connex 6 Country Music Hall of Fame 6 CHARACTER COUNTS! Nashville 7 Children's Kindness Network 7 FiftyForward - RSVP/Friends Learning in Pairs 8 Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee 8 Kids on the Block of STARS Nashville 9 Monroe Harding/Project S.H.A.R.E. program 9 Nashville Public Library 10 PENCIL Foundation 10 Youth Life Learning Center 11 Additional Resources 11 2 2010 Alignment Nashville
Character Education Traits The Alignment Nashville Elementary School committee has identified seven character traits that all children should practice. Character Education Traits 2009-2010 RESPECT (First 9 weeks: August/September/October) Good manners, honesty, tolerant of differences, considerate of other people's feelings RESPONSIBILITY (First 9 weeks: August/September/October) Do your best, think before you act, keep trying, accept responsibility for your actions, take initiative FAIRNESS (Second 9 weeks: October/November/December) Don't blame others carelessly, take turns, share, be openminded, don't take advantage of others CARING including kindness (Second 9 weeks: October/November/December) Help people, be kind, show that you care, demonstrate gratitude HONESTY (Third 9 weeks: January/February/March) Telling the truth, not lying, admitting wrong doing, being sincere TRUSTWORTHINESS (Third 9 weeks: January/February/March) Do what's right, have courage, build a good reputation, be true to your word, don't cheat or steal CITIZENSHIP (Fourth 9 weeks: March/April/May) Cooperate, obey laws, vote, protect the environment, and be involved in the community This guide outlines resources that are available in the Nashville area to support educators while they incorporate character education into their classrooms and schools. 2010 Alignment Nashville 3
Character Education The Importance of Character Education The Character Education Network supports MNPS efforts to achieve the following outcomes: 1. Knowledge of character traits and behavior expectations 2. Improvements in behavior and social development 3. Improvements in school climate 4. Improved student achievement As well as the Tennessee State Guideline: T.C.A. 49-6-1007 requires the course of instruction in all public schools shall include character education. How to Implement Character Education Members of the Character Education Network provide the following categories of services, both in and out of school: 1. Mentoring 2. Tutoring 3. Assemblies/presentations/speakers 4. Marketing/publicity 5. Student incentive programs/items 6. Books/materials/resources Attention Community Organizations: If you would like to be included in future updates of this guide, please visit the Alignment Nashville website at www.alignmentnashville.org and click on the "Get Involved" link. You may also contact Glen Biggs, Associate Director, at glen.biggs@nashville.gov. "If we want our children to possess the traits of character we most admire, we need to teach them what those traits are." --William Bennett Through a collaborative effort between home, school and the community, character education guides students in developing positive ideals and good habits that will improve behavior, school climate, and ultimately academic performance. Students are provided opportunities and examples for becoming conscientious and productive citizens in their school, community and nation. By integrating character traits like caring, respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, citizenship and fairness into all areas of the school experience, students will gain better self-awareness and the desire to become more socially responsible. Effective character education creates a circle of trust and respect among students, school staff, parents and the community. All should make every effort to encourage individual good as well as common good. ~ State of Tennessee T.C.A. 49-6-1007 4 2010 Alignment Nashville
Big Brothers Big Sisters / Book em / Boys & Girls Clubs Book'em Contact Person: Melissa Spradlin E-mail Address: ceo@bookem-kids.org Phone Number: 615-255-1820 Fax Number: 615-866-3482 Web Site: www.bookem-kids.org Address: 161 Rains Avenue Nashville, TN 37203 To inspire a love of books and reading in all children. Reading Is Fundamental - Provides reading role model volunteers who read aloud to assigned elementary classrooms about once a month and incorporate the MNPS character traits into their time with the students. Students also get to select a new book to become their own five times during the school year. Big Brothers Big Sisters Contact Person: Anne Gallo E-mail Address: anne.gallo@bbbs.org khayree.williams@bbbs.org Phone Number: 615-329-9191 Fax Number: 615-321-5913 Web Site: www.bbbsmt.org Address: 1704 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 130 Nashville, TN 37203 To help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that have a measurable impact on youth. In our One-to-One Mentoring, the BBBS training manual, given to volunteers, addresses Character Education and strategies to incorporate character development with their Littles. In addition, BBBS sends out a monthly newsletter to volunteers that addresses MNPS s Character Counts and provides them with relevant activities, resources and information on the pillar of character development that coincides with MNPS s Character Counts curriculum. Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee Contact Person: Jim Williamson E-mail Address: jwilliamson@bgcmt.org Phone Number: 615-425-7016 Fax Number: 615-833-4381 Web Site: www.bgcmt.org Address: P.O. Box 110268 624 Grassmere Park Dr., Ste. 8 Nashville, TN 37211 To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee exist to provide boys and girls ages 6-18 with a place to learn, grow and succeed. Below is a list of programs offered at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee that address positive character development: Club Service: club based national service program (volunteer program) provides career development and scholarship opportunities for young people ages 17-24. A key component to this program is providing young people the opportunity to give back to their local Boys & Girls Club through service. Keystone Club: a "service club" led by Boys & Girls Club participants ages 14-18 that provide them opportunities for character and leadership development through community service. Torch Club: a "service club" led by Boys & Girls Club participants ages 11-13 that provide them opportunities for character and leadership development through community service. Passport to Manhood: promotes good character and male responsibility among 11-14 year olds. Youth for Unity: encourages diversity and addresses issues of prejudice and bigotry for 6-18 year olds. Youth of the Year: promotes character development and civic engagement for 14-18 year olds. As a part of our Project Learn program, we also implement a similar approach to MNPS using Character words of the month and a Country of the Month. These designated themes for the month are woven through all program areas. Organization requires more than a 1 week notice to schedule presentations. Organization may use special equipment (e.g. projector, laptop, appropriate props, etc) and should be asked/informed in advance of potential barriers that may inhibit their use. 2010 Alignment Nashville 5
Character Connex / Country Music Hall of Fame Character Connex / Cornerstone Church Contact Person: Joe Mutter E-mail Address: jmutter@cornerstone nashville.org Phone Number: 615-865-6655 Fax Number: 615-860-9368 Web Site: www.cornerstone nashville.org Address: 726 W Old Hickory Blvd. Madison, TN 37115 Develop good character in children by providing a high energy and entertaining program that captivates and motivates the children to learn. Eight different character building assemblies are provided. Topics include: Responsibility, Honesty, Kindness, Respect, Self Discipline, Courage, Perseverance and Consideration. A team of trained presenters/performers have years of experience working with children. Assemblies are visually attractive and utilize a professionally produced platform which includes music and video. Peek-a-Boo and Puppet Bob are two characters that we have created that the children can relate to. These characters entertain and use visual aids that help children remember the topic. Please call at least three weeks in a advance to reserve your assembly. Subject to availability. Country Music Hall of Fame Contact Person: Julia Belsante E-mail Address: jbelsante@country musichalloffame.org Phone Number: 615-416-2088 Fax Number: 615-255-2245 Web Site: www.countrymusichalloffame.org Address: 222 5th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37203 To identify and preserve the evolving history and traditions of country music and to educate its audiences. Through the Words & Music program, now in its thirtyfirst year, students write or co-write a song. The Words & Music Teacher's Guide assists teachers in guiding students through the lyric-writing process. The guide contains a CD for classroom use, with songs connected to each lesson. Completed lessons are followed by a class visit to the museum, where a professional songwriter demonstrates the adding of melodies to students' original lyrics. This program is free of charge to MNPS students. The Words & Music lessons take approximately four to six class periods of one hour each to complete, and may be completed by a classroom or music teacher. Teachers are also encouraged to attend a Words & Music teacher workshop, held twice annually at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Several of the songs on the classroom CD, including "Man in Black," "Don't Laugh at Me," and "Coat of Many Colors" are about understanding, caring, and respect for others. Upon request, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum can provide a resource sheet for teachers involved in the Character Education program with discussion questions for students to adapt lessons and activities to character education. Students will use lyrics and songs from the lesson guide CD to explore personal experiences related to responsibility, respect, honesty, and citizenship. Lessons take several weeks to complete and original student lyrics must be submitted to the Country Music Hall of Fame two weeks prior to a school visit. It is advisable to reserve a program date at least six weeks in advance. 6 2010 Alignment Nashville
Character Counts / Children s Kindness Network CHARACTER COUNTS! Nashville Contact Person: Tom Carr E-mail Address: Tom.carr@ lipscomb.edu Phone Number: 615-966-6208 Fax Number: 615-966-1807 Web Site: www.character countsnashville.org Address: One University Park Dr. Nashville, TN 37204 The mission of CHARACTER COUNTS! Nashville is to elevate the ethical behavior of children and adults in their everyday life through character education programs and activities. CHARACTER COUNTS! Nashville seeks to enhance the ethical quality of individual and organizational conduct and behavior by presentations, keynote addresses, panels, workshops, consulting seminars and on-site training. CHARACTER COUNTS! Nashville provides resources and materials in the form of publications, newsletters, videos, posters, and placards. Children's Kindness Network Contact Person: Ted Dreier E-mail Address: ted@childrenskindnessnetwork.org Phone Number: 615-591-4660 Web Site: www.childrenskindnessnetwork.org www.moozie.com Address: 1323 Barkleigh Lane Franklin, TN 37064 Building a Culture of Kindness - Beginning with Pre-K. Moozie's Kind Adventure: Moozie the cow is the ambassador of kindness for the Children's Kindness Network. This 20-25 minute presentation is centered around the book Moozie's Kind Adventure. With the use of the book and a five minute CD with Larry Gatlin reading the book backed up by a 104 piece orchestra, children listen to the story assisted with actions led by Farmer Ted and Moozie (in costume). The theme of this presentation is "it's all up to me". Children are encouraged to tell how they can make a difference. Normally presented for first grade or younger. Children/teachers are encouraged to make a list or draw a picture that relates to "it's all up to me". Moozie Kindness Presentation: The children are captivated with Moozie, the talking robotic cow. This 25-35 minute presentation includes Moozie talking about being kind to the earth, each other, animals and ourselves. Children tell about different ways they are kind. This message can be reinforced by later drawing pictures of how they are kind. When given to pre-k children, the message can be followed up with classroom materials and activities developed by the Children's Kindness Network. All of our presentations are in English only. For presentations, we prefer to have at least two weeks lead time, and more if possible. We bring all of the equipment we need. 2010 Alignment Nashville 7
FiftyForward (FLIP) / Junior Achievement FiftyForward - RSVP/ Friends Learning in Pairs (FLIP) Contact Person: Sandra Thomas E-mail Address: sthomas@fiftyforward.org Phone Number: 615-743-3422 Web Site: www.volunteerrsvp.com www.fiftyforward.org Address: 174 Rains Avenue Nashville, TN 37203 Friends Learning in Pairs (FLIP) - to provide the support needed by matching senior adults astutors/ mentors with at-risk student's who are struggling with reading and math skills and who have low-self esteem, to help increase their reading and math skills and self-esteem levels. Program Statements: During the tutor/mentor session with K-4 students, the FLIP volunteers will help build positive character traits by spending 30-minutes each month using activity sheets with quick and fun exercises that address each trait. Volunteers will also look for opportunities to point out and discuss character traits when they occur in the books that they read. Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee Contact Person: Andy Schenck E-mail Address: andys@janash.com Phone Number: 615-627-1186 Fax Number: 615-297-8514 Web Site: www.janash.com Address: 120 Powell Place Nashville, TN 37204 The mission of Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Junior Achievement (JA) of Middle Tennessee offers 6 different grade-appropriate programs that incorporate JA's themes of financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness into the classroom. Each program contains five 45-minute lessons delivered directly by a business volunteer in the classroom during the school day. Volunteers share their personal and professional experiences with students while teaching a curriculum that provides interactive, hands-on activities that teach students applicable 21st-century skills. Organization requires more than one week's notice to schedule presentations. Once a teacher signs up, JA must recruit a volunteer to deliver the program. Volunteers and teachers will communicate directly to schedule classroom visits. They are typically delivered once per week. Scheduling is flexible and is determined by the teacher and volunteer. 8 2010 Alignment Nashville
Kids on the Block of STARS Nashville Contact Person: Melanie Scott E-mail Address: mscott@starsnashville.org Phone Number: 615-279-0058 Fax Number: 615-279-0056 Web Site: www.kobnashville.org Address: 1704 Charlotte Ave., Ste. 200 Nashville, TN 37203 The mission of Kids on the Block is to educate children and the broader community about health and social concerns that affect their lives. Using puppets and other teaching tools, Kids on the Block promotes understanding and acceptance of all children and adults, regardless of their differences. Kids on the Block provides educational programs for children Kindergarten through the 6th grade. These programs are designed to be an enhancement tool for a guidance counselor's curriculum and each of the programs contains the components of Character Education. The topics covered are Bullying, Child Abuse Prevention, Disability Awareness, Prejudice Prevention, Combating Childhood Obesity, Teen Pregnancy and Substance Abuse Prevention. Engaging the students is easy with a live puppetry presentation. With each program, the students are able to ask the puppets questions. At this point the students relate to the puppets as peers and ask questions accordingly. Materials are given to the students to help reinforce the message. Kids on the Block's (KOB) schedule fills up quickly, so please try to book at the beginning of the school year. KOB asks that all Davidson County schools pay a $50 travel fee. The Kids on the Block puppets are culturally diverse and many of the programs deliver the message of acceptance of all people regardless of their differences. Kids on the Block representatives bring all of their own equipment, but need a space big enough to fit a grade level at a time. Travel Fee: $50 Monroe Harding/ Project S.H.A.R.E. program Contact Person: Laquita Harrison E-mail Address: laquitaharrison@ monroeharding.org Phone Number: 615-298-5573 ext. 136 Fax Number: 615-298-1281 Web Site: www.monroeharding.org Address: 1120 Glendale Lane Nashville, TN 37204 Monroe Harding provides a bridge to success for at-risk youth and families. Monroe Harding and Project S.H.A.R.E is a collaboration between Alignment Nashville and the following schools: Caldwell, Carter-Lawrence, Eakin, Julia Green, Hattie Cotton, Napier, Shayne, Tusculum, UNA and Whitsett. Project S.H.A.R.E. works with trained volunteers, who have completed background checks and are matched with a child referred to Project S.H.A.R.E. by school personnel (guidance counselor or principal). At the time of the referral, information is gathered regarding the needs of the child. He or she is then matched with a mentor who meets with him or her one day a week for an hour working on goals established by the teacher. Often, children are lacking skills to relate and get along with their peers and other individuals. While they may work on school assignments recommended by the teacher, Project S.H.A.R.E. mentors also focus on socialization skills which include character traits identified by the Alignment Nashville Committee. Recently, Project S.H.A.R.E. mentors have worked specifically on the issue of bullying with children referred by school principals. Organization offers multicultural/multilingual presentations Organization requires more than a 1 week notice to schedule presentations. Organization may use special equipment (e.g. projector, laptop, appropriate props, etc) and should be asked/informed in advance of potential barriers that may inhibit their use. Kids on the Block / Monroe Harding (S.H.A.R.E.) 2010 Alignment Nashville 9
Nashville Public Library / PENCIL Foundation Nashville Public Library Contact Person: Jennifer Schmid E-mail Address: jennifer.schmid@nashville.gov Phone Number: 615-862-5786 Fax Number: 615-880-2112 Web Site: Address: www.library.nashville.org 615 Church Street Nashville, TN 37219 Nashville Public Library is committed to: Extending the benefits and joys of reading, lifelong learning, and discovery to all people through collections and services; Promoting the value and power of knowledge, essential in an informed democracy, by providing open and equal access to the records and opinions of the world; Providing emerging technologies and instruction as a gateway to information resources within and beyond our walls; Serving the community with integrity and skill; Providing an environment welcoming to all people which serves as a gathering place within the community; Preserving and sharing across generations the wisdom, culture, and history of our community. Nashville Public Library is a distributor of information to the general public. We provide informational resources and programs to students, their parents, and the school communities. Character education resources are on display at various library locations. Organization offers multicultural/multilingual presentations Organization requires more than a 1 week notice to schedule presentations. PENCIL Foundation Contact Person: Ann Johnston E-mail Address: ajohnston@pencilfd.org Phone Number: 615-242-3167 ext 232 Fax Number: 615-254-6748 Web Site; Address: www.pencilfoundation.org 421 Great Circle Road, Suite 100 Nashville, TN 37228 Linking community resources with Nashville public schools to help young people achieve academic success and prepare for life. PENCIL Foundation's Reading Partners, designed and implemented in collaboration with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), is a kindergarten through grade six school-based program that recruits and trains community volunteers to read aloud to students and to provide individual assistance to students who need extra practice and encouragement to gain early reading skills. The program's goals are to provide positive adult role models and mentoring relationships for students, to assist students in improving their reading skills, to enhance students' self-esteem and self-confidence toward reading, to promote and model positive character traits, and to help students increase their appreciation and enjoyment of literature. Each Reading Partner volunteer receives a manual during training that contains information on character education focus areas by month and a Character Counts booklist sorted by character traits. In collaboration with Alignment Nashville's emphasis upon character education in grades K-4, PENCIL's Reading Partners program encourages volunteers to select and share books that portray character traits designated for school-wide focus each month. 10 2010 Alignment Nashville
Youth Life Learning Center / More Services Youth Life Learning Center Contact Person: Lindsay Daly Secondary: Thomas Howard E-mail Address: Lindsay@yllc.org Phone Number: 615-333-7672 Fax Number: 615-333-7031 Web Site: www.yllc.org Address: P.O. Box 90212 Nashville, TN 37209 To nurture the child, strengthen the family, and rebuild the community by aiding and supporting the educational, moral, and social development of at-risk youth. Each six weeks at the Youth Life Learning Center (YLLC), students learn about a "pillar" from the Character Counts model. Students participate in grade-level appropriate stories, games, and hands-on activities focusing on those concepts. They also complete at least one journal about that character quality. While YLLC staff do not provide character based programs outside of the YLLC, they do communicate with school teachers and the students' parents to determine if that student is exhibiting and understanding the character focus outside of the YLLC as well. Other Local Services and Resources We want to acknowledge the organizations listed below that also provide outstanding support of the Character Education efforts of MNPS and the Character Education Committee: Hands On Nashville Homework Hotline Museum Services Nashville Children's Theatre Nashville Symphony Tennessee Voices for Children - The Tennessee Parent Information and Resource Center Zaner-Bloser Educational Publishers Mayor Karl Dean reads to elementary school children. 2010 Alignment Nashville 11
About Alignment Nashville Alignment Nashville (AN) is a unique and scalable framework for developing community schools. The mission is to bring community organizations and resources into alignment so that their coordinated support of Nashville's youth has a positive impact on public school success, children's health, and the success of our community as a whole. In the past, over 175 nonprofit organizations worked in the schools and community individually, without direction or coordination. While each organization provided much-needed services, the problems facing public education and our children are far too complex for any single organization to address in isolation. Alignment Nashville has developed processes for collaboration that align the resources of these organizations to the Metro Nashville Public Schools strategic plan and to community strategic plans, aligning the city's resources toward common goals. AN was developed to ensure all the services children need are provided to them in an effective and efficient way that complements their education, health and well-being, and the goals of the public schools. Through community-wide collaboration among schools, non-profits, businesses, and the public sector, AN creates the synergy necessary for sustained improvement in public education and children's health. This collaboration provides the following advantages: Greater returns on investment - by working together toward common goals, resources are leveraged, duplication is avoided, and efficiency is greatly increased. Higher-quality services - utilizing expertise from multiple organizations guarantees a broader perspective and a wiser approach. Enhanced capacity - very few organizations have the capacity to have community-wide impact. A collective effort enhances the impact of each of organization, while generating a much greater overall impact. Leverage of local funding - AN programs have demonstrated they can attract large national funding, increasing the impact of the local funding that played a role in building the pilot programs. Members of the Alignment Nashville Elementary Committee include: Todd Wigginton, Chair Melissa Spradlin, Vice Chair Tom Carr Judy Goetz Stephanie Grimes Laquita Harrison Thomas Howard Ann Johnston Judy Maloney Sheila Montgomery David Moore Greg Patterson Melanie Scott Glen Biggs Metro Nashville Public Schools Book'em CHARACTER COUNTS! Nashville Nashville Public Library Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Middle TN Monroe Harding Project S.H.A.R.E. Youth Life Learning Centers PENCIL Foundation Metro Nashville Public Schools Hillsboro Church of Christ Metro Nashville Public Schools Metro Nashville Public Schools Kids on the Block of STARS Nashville Alignment Nashville